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IRL VisionAire 500 Qualifying Chronology and Quotes (7/24/97)

24 July 1997


INDY RACING LEAGUE QUALIFYING CHRONOLOGY

Official Alltime CMS Track Record: 185.759 miles an hour by Ward Burton in a
Winston Cup car on Oct. 6, 1994.

Time	Qual	Car	Driver				First Lap	Second Lap		Speed
of Day	Attp	No.					Time	Speed	Time	Speed		Rank
		
7:10	1	5	Arie Luyendyk			25.245	213.904	25.172	214.524		1
(First lap breaks alltime CMS track record of 185.759 by Ward Burton)
(Second lap breaks alltime CMS track record of 213.904 set by Luyendyk on first lap)
7:12	2	2	Tony Stewart			24.986	216.121	24.866	217.164		1
(First lap breaks alltime CMS track record of 214.524 set by Arie Luyendyk earlier)
(Second lap breaks alltime CMS track record of 216.121 set by Stewart on first lap)
7:16	3	1	Billy Boat			25.543	211.408	25.419	212.440		3
7:18	4	14	Davey Hamilton			25.454	212.147	25.424	212.398		4
7:24	5	51	Eddie Cheever Jr.		25.929	208.261	25.911	208.406		5
7:28	6	40	Dr. Jack Miller			26.413	204.445	26.193	206.162		6
7:30	Temperature was 88 degrees, track temperature 104 degrees, according to Firestone tire engineers.
7:31	7	33	Jimmy Kite			25.865	208.776	25.891	208.567		5
7:33	8	70	Marco Greco			25.823	209.116	25.861	208.809		5
7:39	9	10	Mike Groff			27.548	196.021	27.187	198.624		9
7:42	10	18	John Paul Jr.			26.883	200.870	26.577	203.183		9
7:45	11	17	Affonso Giaffone		26.045	207.333	26.074	207.103		8
7:47	12	27	Jim Guthrie			25.782	209.448	25.661	210.436		5
7:50	13	21	Roberto Guerrero		25.736	209.823	25.688	210.215		6
7:53	14	77	Stephan Gregoire		25.967	207.956	25.799	209.310		7
7:59	15	91	Buddy Lazier			25.478	211.948	25.514	211.649		5
8 p.m. 	Temperature was 86 degrees, track temperature was 99 degrees, according to Firestone tire engineers.
8:01	16	28	Mark Dismore			25.827	209.084	25.808	209.237		9
8:04	17	6	Scott Goodyear			26.065	207.174	25.787	209.408		8
8:11	18	7	Eliseo Salazar			25.891	208.567	25.961	208.004		13
8:14	19	30	Robbie Groff			26.328	205.105	26.333	205.066		17
8:16	20	22	Vincenzo Sospiri		26.236	205.824	25.833	209.035		12
8:19	Track opened for practice for #31 Ray, #4 Brack.
8:24	21	4	Kenny Brack			26.089	206.984	26.062	207.198		17
8:28	22	31	Greg Ray			26.120	206.738	26.054	207.262		17

NOTES, QUOTES ON QUALIFYING:

--The pole is Tony Stewart's fifth in the IRL and seventh straight front-row
start. It's his eighth front-row start in the 11 IRL races.
--Sam Schmidt did not qualify because of a broken cam sensor. "Sixty-nine
cent part, three-hour repair," said a team spokesperson.
--This is Arie Luyendyk's fifth front-row IRL start.
--This is Billy Boat's best career IRL start. His best previous was 15th at
Pikes Peak last month.

	BILLY BOAT: "I believe we ran faster than we practiced. It will be an
advantage to go later. It's going to help the guys later on. The track could
change a lot. We haven't had a lot of time under the lights."





IRL QUOTES (continued):

	DR. JACK MILLER: "We're really happy. We got the car working real well
right now. I was flat all the way around. We ran the optional tires. I think
they gripped too well. We feel Nissan is making the improvements necessary
to provide more power, yet still keeping reliability a priority. We're not
there yet but we're getting closer. They're working with us, giving us a
better engine. We have faith in them, they have faith in us. It's more bumpy
here than at Texas. Every characteristic of the corners are different."

	MIKE GROFF: "We've got our work cut out for us. Getting in and out of the
car was a little tough. I think we'll be okay on Race Day...not 100 percent
yet but it's good to be back in a race car and here in Charlotte. I think
I'll be rid of these (crutches) in a few weeks. Conditions are absolutely
good right now. All in all, ideal conditions...it's really cooled off."

	JIM GUTHRIE: "We're really glad to be here. We've been sneaking up on it
each day. It's really hot here, but it's fun. We're racing now. That Jacuzzi
car was flying. The guys worked really hard. They were thrashing. We've been
making a lot of shock changes because of (Turns) 3 and 4. We're just trying
to loosen it up. We were a little soft. We're doing springs and wings...the
basics. I was smelling the wood burning on the last lap. We'll get it
loosened up. It's pretty tough since we weren't here in testing like a lot
of the teams."

	BUDDY LAZIER: "The team has been working real well. We're as flat-out as
flat-out is. We're just going as fast as we can go. We haven't figured out
how to make it go. We're right at 10,500 RPMs. We're working erally hard but
we're just a little frustrated. We've got a pretty good handle on the bumps
but I think it's going to add to the racing."

	SAM SCHMIDT: "Last time out we broke a cam sensor. They're thrashing over
there but there's an 8:30 deadline and I don't think we're gonna make it.
It's really disappointing. We didn't have a pole car but we had a top-10 car."

	ROBBIE GROFF: "We couldn't do any better for this time right now. I'm flat
around the track. We're up there on the RPMs but we don't know what's up."

	ARIE LUYENDYK: "For the first time I was flat out all the way around. We
expected Tony to be quicker. We didn't test here and that put us at a big
disadvantage. We are still a little behind, but we actually qualified with
our race engine so I think we are in good shape for the race. "

	DAVEY HAMILTON: "We were hoping for a little more, but the car is real
comfortable and I was able to go around here flat out. The car had a bunch
of push, so we were scrubbing off too much speed. The good thing is that the
car is very comfortable and I think we can do that speed all day long."

	JIMMY KITE: "We missed the whole second half of practice with a gearbox
problem, so we're happy with that run. We've got a good race car but we
didn't have a chance to trim it out for qualifying. We basically went out
with a race setup. Our big deal is to get ready for the race and then
complete the entire distance." (about slowing down on second lap): "I looked
down at the dashboard and saw we were only running 208 so I decided to alter
my groove and obviously it didn't work."

	JOHN PAUL JR.: "It's pretty damned slow. We didn't test here and we're
trying to catch up with the teams that were here two and three times. We've
got to work on getting the car over the bumps. The front end took off in
Turn 3 and I was lucky to save it. If we can get the car where it's balanced
over the bumps, we'll be in great shape. It took me a half a day to get my
brain back up to speed so I could give the team the feedback they needed and
that really put us behind the 8-ball."

	SCOTT GOODYEAR: "It stunk. We changed the car from this morning and we
didn't have a clue what it was gonna do."

	STEPHAN GREGOIRE: "The car is pushing in the entrance to the corners and it
was not very stable through the bumps but that was a good time for us
because we didn't test and we didn't go to Texas. This track is very
challenging. It's just a matter of finding the setup and so far, we haven't
found it."








IRL POST-QUALIFYING QUOTES (continued):

	VINCENZO SOSPIRI: "I had to lift big-time in (Turn) 3. It has a little push
in (Turns) 1 and 2. Then I nearly lost the car in (Turn) 3. That's where we
lost all our speed. We didn't test here but we were able to get the car
sorted out quickly. But it looks like we still have a little more work to
do." (about gaining speed over practice): "I'm not pushing the car during
practice. In practice, you try to get a feel for the car and it doesn't
matter if you're running 200 or 205. I think we made a small mistake on the
ride height and the tire pressure or we would have been much quicker."

	KENNY BRACK: "It was okay.  The team did a tremendous job after we had an
engine problem. The car felt pretty stable. I was flatout all the way around
both laps and that's all you can do from the cockpit. We'll have to find
some more speed in the car for the race."

	TONY STEWART: "The guys did a good job for us again. You know they've given
me a great race car. We didn't want to get the car too good in practice.
Basically, we just left a little bit for qualifying. We only gained two or
three tenths of a mile an hour. Unless there are some sleepers, everyone
will run the same as they did in practice." (about the race): "I wouldn't
want to rule anyone out. In the race, I think we'll be pretty close to
qualifying speeds. I'm always looking forward to the race." (about learning
from Joe Gibbs Racing about the track): "Quite a bit actually. It's an
advantage when you can find out the speed spots before you get there." (what
does the IRL bring to NASCAR country?): "Raw speed, first of all. Just like
in Texas, we were running side-by-side."

	EDDIE CHEEVER JR.: "Not too good. We've just had problems on these
high-banked ovals. The car has been very reliable. When you have your foot
flat on the pedal, there's just no more left. To win this race, you're gonna
have to do 210, 211 every lap. The fans will come down and see some good
racing. The Indy cars invited the NASCAR boys down to the Holy Land and now
they've invited us here." (differences between IRL and NASCAR cars): "When
you're sitting in a race car, it's the same...you turn left."

	MARCO GRECO: "The track can be a little bit harder physically but I'll be
okay. The car was very good. We didn't have enough time to practice and set
up the car. I was flat out. There was some understeer in the car. I think we
can cure that for the race. I think it's just a question of setting up the car."

	AFFONSO GIAFFONE: "I was flat-out all the way around. There was no pushing
or nothing. It felt really good. We need to bring the car back to the garage
and see what's going on." (importance of Friday's practice): "It's very
important. It's gonna be the first time that everyone is going to run on
full tanks."

	ROBERTO GUERRERO: "Well, to be honest with you, I'm a little disappointed.
I was going for the pole after the way we ran on Tuesday. We'll be in good
shape for Saturday. The car is working really well. We pretty much did the
same speed as we did in practice." (about the race): "If your car is working
on Saturday, it doesn't matter where you start. I think we'll be able to put
on a good show. Indianapolis is the kingdom of Indy cars and this place is
the kingdom of NASCAR."

	MARK DISMORE: "We'll figure out what's going on and we'll get some more
speed. The track for us is getting better and better. It really comes down
to shock absorber tuning. Turn 4 is the place where you really have to focus."

	GREG RAY: "Well, even though we only got three hot laps before qualifying
and 12 laps of practice on Tuesday, I'm still happy. It was sort of do or
die time. We were looking forward to having a good weekend after we picked
up all of those sponsors. The car felt very comfortable. In Turn 1, the car
picked up a little bit of a push. We had an oil pump break this morning and
we've never seen this place and we haven't had any practice time. We'll have
a good race. We're a new team and we'll bounce back."

	ELISEO SALAZAR: "We went flat-out all the way around. We didn't have enough
speed on the straights. We're going to have to just fine some speed
somewhere, but I don't know where. Maybe it's just the weather."
	










IRL POST-QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES:

	ARIE LUYENDYK: "We have a little bit of a feel of how this race is going to
go. I've got a feel for the traffic. If you had asked me three or four years
ago about running on high-banked tracks, I'd say you were nuts, but these
cars are built pretty strong. It makes you feel comfortable knowing you can
run fast on this kind of track without losing something on the car."

	BILLY BOAT: "I guess the upside is that this is my best starting spot. I'll
just try to hang with the pack. We haven't really changed much on the car at
all. I think we have a good race car, which is the most important thing.
Night racing is just second nature to us because we've been doing it all our
lives."

	TONY STEWART:  (about his run): "The run was pretty much the same as we had
in practice. Basically, we didn't make a lot of changes going into
qualifying. Basically, we just tried to compensate for the weather. We
didn't make any drastic changes so we didn't gain much time. It was a
five-lap practice run for us." (about running later in line): "When we were
in Texas, we went faster in the practice session in the warmer weather than
we did in qualifying so I didn't want to let anyone know but that was what I
really wanted. I didn't think it hurt us by any means. But after looking at
the other times, I don't think it would have benefitted either." (about
running a stock car here vs. an IRL car): "It's a lot easier to get it into
your mind that you can go into (Turn) 3 flat than try to do it in a stock
car. You are dealing with so much more weight and half as much tire. These
cars are a lot more nimble and agile than the stock cars are." 

	LARRY CURRY (Team Menard, director of racing): "We really didn't make that
many adjustments to the car since we've been here this weekend. When we had
the test down here, it was very evident we would have to make some shock
absorber changes to get the car to ride over the bumps in (Turns) 3 and 4.
We felt that that was going to be the key, to run quicker than we ran in the
tes. We just made very, very small changes from the first day we ran till
today. It's very easy for me to sit here and say I thought he would run 216
or 217 but I did."

***